Özgür Özel's much-discussed remarks on Kılıçdaroğlu: 'I couldn't sleep after those words'

Özgür Özel, who was removed from his position as Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) by a court decision, was a guest on the "Right of Reply with Timur Soykan" program broadcast on BirGün's YouTube channel.

Özel made striking statements regarding the court's absolute nullity decision, the debates within the CHP, his parliamentary group chairmanship, his potential presidential candidacy, the possibility of his arrest, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's potential re-candidacy.

The CHP leader stated that they are determined to continue the struggle within his party to the end, saying, "We are determined to fight this struggle in this party to the end. If the final effort is also rendered futile by these malicious attempts, then I will ask the nation. Which way should I walk? I mean, the road has ended. I will ask which way to go. They will show me a path."

"THOSE WHO SAY DON'T LEAVE THE PARTY AND THOSE WHO SAY YOU WALK ON ARE 51 TO 49"

Describing the reactions from the street, Özel said that in the early days, the call to "not leave the party" was dominant, but this ratio changed over time.

Özel stated, "In the first days, the voice saying 'never leave the party' was 90 percent. 10 percent were saying 'you walk, we are behind you.' This first dropped to 70 to 30. Now it is 51 to 49. Those who say don't leave the party and those who say you walk on... One needs to hear what the street will say, but this struggle must be fought to the end."

"IF THEY EXPEL ÖZGÜR ÖZEL FROM THE CHP, THE GROUP CHAIRMANSHIP COULD FALL"

The CHP leader also touched upon the debates regarding his parliamentary group chairmanship. Stating that the Speaker of the Parliament recognizes the CHP's group chairmanship, which was elected in accordance with procedure, Özel said that the group chairmanship cannot be terminated by a written notice.

Özel said, "The group's internal regulations state that the group chairmanship cannot be terminated by a written notice, but only by a vote of no confidence and an absolute majority. The Speaker of the Parliament rejected this request, and there is no such risk now."

Özel stated that if he were to be expelled from the CHP, his group chairmanship could fall, saying, "Do they intend to expel the party's elected chairman from the party, would they risk it? I mean, if they expel Özgür Özel from the CHP, then the group chairmanship could fall."

Özel stated that he has kept himself out of the equation in the presidential candidacy debates. Saying that this was a conscious choice made to spoil a game that would divide the CHP, Özel said, "I removed myself from the presidential candidacy equation once to spoil this game."

Özel argued that if he were to make a candidacy announcement, it would lead to new debates over Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş.

"I COULDN'T SLEEP AFTER THOSE WORDS OF KEMAL BEY"

Özel said that he was able to sleep in the face of many critical developments during the process, but that he lost his sleep after Kemal Bey's statements.

"They said nullity is coming, I went to bed and slept. The nullity decision came out, I went to bed and slept. They said they would attack the party in the morning, I went to bed and slept," said Özel, adding the following:

"In Kemal Bey's text, growing into the Ottoman geography, the CHP taking its place here... After the tone and emphasis of 'we can fill this corner too,' in the rhetoric where Barrack says 'a compassionate monarchy is needed, democracy is too much for this country,' and which the People's Alliance has adopted, I couldn't sleep. I lost my sleep."

"I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE ARRESTED NOW"

Özel also responded to a question regarding the possibility of his arrest. Stating that he does not expect to be arrested at this stage, Özel argued that the accusations directed at him are political.

"What will they arrest me for? I mean, what am I being accused of? The crime of defeating the AK Party," said Özel, noting that there are 56 summaries of proceedings against him.

The CHP leader stated, "I am a target because I said no to that offer, that is, I said no to the offer of 'come, sit in the opposition happily for 20 years and enjoy yourself,' and because I aimed for power. Whatever is at the end of this target, I have accepted it."

Making a self-criticism regarding what is happening within the CHP, Özel said, "I was also angry at myself for this reason. I said, 'We left this party to these people.' I understood better what kind of lack of standards we are facing and what kind of alliance of evil we are facing."

"A TRAP MIGHT BE BEING SET FOR ERDOĞAN WITHIN THE PARTY"

One of Özel's most striking statements was regarding President Erdoğan's potential re-candidacy. Emphasizing that no one should take the CHP group's vote for granted, Özel said that they would not support potential proposals regarding the election date in advance.

Özel said, "Let no one wait for an election date by calculating that our group will vote for it. Let no one see our vote in their pocket."

Suggesting that there might be different calculations within the AKP regarding Erdoğan's re-candidacy, Özel said, "A trap might be being set for Erdoğan within the party."

Özel said, "While the sons and sons-in-law in the palace are at each other's throats, with proxy wars in the newspapers and whatever else on Twitter, they might just package him up by saying 'don't worry, we will make you a candidate on April 16'."

News Source: 12punto